Focal ratio is also commonly known as the f/number, f/ratio, f-stop, f-ratio, etc; and is notated simply as N. Focal ratio is the speed by which an optical system needs to be exposed to produce an image; and can be found by dividing the system?s focal length by its aperture. A lower focal ratio means […]
In astronomy, field of view (FOV) is the amount of sky seen by the naked eye or through a telescope. This commonly refers to the angular area viewed by a telescope or any high magnification instrument; and is usually measured in square degrees, or for higher magnification instruments, in square arc-minutes. Separated from a telescope,
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In astronomy, focal length is primarily used when referring to telescopes. It is the distance light travels starting from the lens of a telescope down to the point where it is focused. While in optics, focal length is simply defined as the strength by which an optical system (like a telescope) converges (focuses) or diverges
An eyepiece, or ocular lens, is basically the lens through which one views in optical devices such as telescopes and microscopes. They are attached to such instruments, and used to magnify whatever object is pointed at.
To use telescopes, they must be supported by a special kind of stand, or mount. Like a tripod for video cameras. Otherwise, you would have to hold it all the time. They help the viewer to keep the telescope steady, point it and adjust it at the celestial bodies every time they change positions and
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In science, especially astronomy, all types of equipment abound. One of which is the siderostat. Unknown to many, various apparatus may have a different names, but the less known words are the generalized of the more formal term for these scientific or astronomical equipment. A siderostat is defined as the formal or the general term
The Schmidt camera is a catadioptric astrophotography telescope that is capable of providing a wide array of options in its fields of views and with limited aberrations. The Schmidt camera is also known to many as the Schmidt telescope, and was invented by optician Bernard Schmidt of Estonia back in 1930. The optical components that
Photo by: Kapeke.de Creative Commons The Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope is a known variation of the Schmidt camera, and is compact enough to present excellent results especially when not pushed to its design limits. It permits outstanding visual observation of the skies with its convex and spherical secondary mirror reflecting the converging beam originating from the primary
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Secondary mirrors are those second focusing or deflecting mirror element in refracting telescopes. The light that is gathered by the primary mirror will be directed to a focal point that is located just past the secondary. It is a small mirror in every refracting telescope where it functions to redirect that light towards various light-sensitive
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is considered to be the greatest space equipment ever to have been made. This special telescope gets its name from noted astronomer Edwin Hubble. Funding for the Hubble Telescope came during the 1970’s; however, it was not launched until 1990. It is a space telescope that floats hundreds of miles
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